Think from KERA

Ending child labor at the beginning of the last century allowed children more room to grow – but there’s still work to be done. Drexel University law professor Adam Benforado joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why cracks in public education and juvenile justice have left children vulnerable, and why making kids a policy priority bodes well for all our futures. His book is “ A Minor Revolution: How Pr...

Half the world has a menstrual cycle, and yet it’s still greatly misunderstood. Kate Clancy, professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the science of periods, reproductive health, and the ways we hide this simple fact of nature from daily life. Her book is “ Period: The Real Story of Menstruation .” Learn about your ad choices: dovet...

Texas lawmakers have filed 30 bills targeting trans rights this legislative session. April Ortiz is a writer, artist and professor, and she joins host Krys Boyd to discuss coming out as transgender in the face of discrimination and the hate she feels in her home state, and why living in Uvalde strengthened her resolve to tell her story. Her essay, “ I am a trans Texan ,” was published by the Texas...

No matter how many galaxies astrophysicists can see, when it comes to understanding the early days of the universe they are still in the dark. Emma Chapman is a Royal Society research fellow at the University of Nottingham. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the 100 million years missing from the timeline of the universe, and efforts to uncover the secrets of the stars. Her book is “ First Light:...

In the 1740s, a shipwreck produced stories of heroes and mutineers — but who was telling the truth? New Yorker staff writer David Grann joins host Krys Boyd to discuss a British warship called the Wager, which wrecked in Patagonia, and the conflicting stories of its surviving castaways. And that was just the beginning of the chaos! Grann’s new book is “The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and M...

In these politically divided times, it can be hard to come to a consensus on what makes a good citizen. Richard Haas, president of the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why rights alone will not guide the country into a unified future, and why we must ask what democracy requires of us to make it work. His new book is “ The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits...

Marginalized communities often feel the impact of climate change the most. Leah Thomas, founder of The Intersectional Environmentalist climate justice collective, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the links between racism, environmentalism and privilege and to offer ways to have underrepresented voices heard in climate policy discussions. Her book is “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dism...

The prevailing narrative is that adult adoptees should be grateful, which ignores the deep trauma that adoption can create. New Yorker staff writer Larissa MacFarquhar joins host Krys Boyd to tell the stories of adult adoptees grappling with their feelings of transracial adoption, international placement and even adoptions that on the outside look like a perfect fit. Her article is called “ The Fo...

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained by Russia last month and accused of espionage – further eroding U.S.-Russian relations. Warren P. Strobel covers intelligence and security in the Journal’s Washington bureau, and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the very tricky road ahead to secure Gershkovich’s release. His article is “ Evan Gershkovich’s Arrest Marks a New Era of Hosta...

From disabilities to disfigurements, fictionalized villains are reflections of an ableist worldview. Jan Grue, a professor at the University of Oslo and himself disabled, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss villains from Disney to 007 – and how these portrayals of people with disabilities spread harmful ideas. His article, “ The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can’t kill off this ugly trope...

Intelligence is better measured across a spectrum, rather than with a simple IQ test. Rina Bliss, associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her work in epigenetics, working to understand how human intelligence grows and changes in response to our surroundings. Her book is “ Rethinking Intelligence: A Radical New Understanding of Our Human Potential .”...

Thousands took up sourdough baking during the pandemic, but how many actually mastered it? New Yorker staff writer Adam Gopnik joins host Krys Boyd to discuss what it takes to master a skill and to explain why the real benefit comes not in becoming a virtuoso but, rather, in just forcing your brain to try something hard. His book is “ The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery .” Learn about your ad...

Like countless others, Mary Louise Kelly juggles the demands of a career with motherhood. The host of NPR’s “All Things Considered” joins host Krys Boyd to discuss her memoir, which centers on her sons’ final years of high school and her realization that once they graduate, their daily family time spent together is likely at an end. Her book is “ It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs .” Lea...

Emancipation freed enslaved people, but it didn’t do much to help them succeed. Kidada E. Williams is an associate professor of history at Wayne State University. She joins host Krys Boyd to tell the stories of people trying to rebuild their lives after slavery, and how for many life was just as difficult in the years that followed. Her book is “ I Saw Death Coming: A History of Terror and Surviva...

A love of music connects us as people – but did you ever stop to think that animals might have a favorite song, too? New Yorker staff writer Burkhard Bilger joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his profile of neuroscientist and musician David Sulzer, who is trying to define what music is, exactly, and how studying animals’ connection to music is helping in that pursuit.  His article is “ The Wild World...

Higher brain function might be as easy as learning to say “hello” in several different languages. Viorica Marian is Ralph and Jean Sundin Endowed Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders and professor of psychology at Northwestern University. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss why she believes we all have the capacity to be multi-lingual and how that effects the ways we perceive the worl...

“Futurist” sounds like a fairly new job title, but previous generations were full of people writing about their educated guesses of what was to come. Yale neurologist Dr. Steven Novella is one of America’s foremost scientific skeptics, and he joins host Krys Boyd for a look at what earlier futurists got right and what they missed in order to better fine-tune our current predictions. His book is “...

Our approach to work is ever-evolving – from where we physically do our jobs to the meaning we derive from our careers. Derek Thompson writes about our work lives for The Atlantic, and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how everything from mass automation to a global pandemic has many of us rethinking how we spend those 40+ hours a week. The new collection of his writing about work is called “...

How can a country as rich as the United States have so many people living at or below the poverty line? Sociologist Matthew Desmond won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017 for his book “Evicted,” and he joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his follow-up investigation, which centers on the idea that affluent Americans in ways known and unknown keep poor people poor. Desmond’s new book is “ Poverty, by America .” L...

Many of us have a passion for good food and drink – but what happens when your high standards lead to disappointment more often than pleasure? Dan Ahdoot is a stand-up comic and restaurateur, and he joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how his foodie obsessions took a toll on his happiness and relationships and how he finally learned to let go of the pursuit of perfection. He’s the author of “ Under...

To drop a dress size or two, some celebrities and other wealthy people are turning to prescriptions designed for very heavy people to lose significant weight. Jia Tolentino is a staff writer for The New Yorker, and she joins host Krys Boyd to talk about how – with enough money – it’s easy for anyone to get their hands on these drugs – and how people who take them might underestimate the health ris...

Ari Shapiro, host of NPR’s All Things Considered, has stories to tell from his years in journalism. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his new memoir, a collection of essays that tell poignant stories ranging from his time on Air Force One, to fleeing with Syrian refugees, to performing cabaret with Alan Cumming. It’s called “ The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening .”...

Often, the challenge for caring with those with forms of dementia is trying to understand the loss of time and context of one’s mind. Dasha Kiper is consulting clinical director of support groups at CaringKind (formerly the Alzheimer’s Association). She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the disconnect between the healthy mind of a caregiver and the ailing mind of a patient, and the counterproductive...

The pandemic lockdown emptied roadways of cars and provided a brief look at what cities could look like with less-congested streets. Reis Thebault is a West Coast correspondent for The Washington Post. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the battles cities are waging to permanently ban cars in certain places in order to create public spaces for walkers and bicyclists, and why this is a watershed mo...

The simple egg is a universal symbol of power and nourishment. Designer and author Lizzie Stark joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history and culture of eggs – from world cuisine to motherhood – and how we’re still awed by such a humble object. Her book is “ Egg: A Dozen Ovatures .” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices